This is a discussion on Playing Aggressive On the Bubble in Micro Tourneys within the online poker forums, in the Tournament Poker section; 99% of decent poker players seem to agree that playing aggressive around the bubble is the best strategy because that is when almost everyone tightens

Playing Aggressive On the Bubble in Micro Tourneys

99% of decent poker players seem to agree that playing aggressive around the bubble is the best strategy because that is when almost everyone tightens up to avoid getting knocked out. If the second part of that statement were true, then sure. My issue with this is that at the <$11 buy in tourneys on PSTARS everyone seems to be ultra aggressive on the bubble. Anyone else notice the same trend?

By my eye, there's about a 50/50 chance that at least 3/9 players go all in preflop every hand.

So, I think, if this is happening, then playing tight on the bubble will be more profitable. I'll still agree that taking advantage of any tight players on the table is crucial at this stage, but to just automatically get aggressive seems misguided. Thoughts?

#2

5th August 2016, 4:22 PM

teamjb [26]

Online Poker at: pokerstars

Game: hold'em

Originally Posted by kmart99

99% of decent poker players seem to agree that playing aggressive around the bubble is the best strategy because that is when almost everyone tightens up to avoid getting knocked out. If the second part of that statement were true, then sure. My issue with this is that at the <$11 buy in tourneys on PSTARS everyone seems to be ultra aggressive on the bubble. Anyone else notice the same trend?

By my eye, there's about a 50/50 chance that at least 3/9 players go all in preflop every hand.

So, I think, if this is happening, then playing tight on the bubble will be more profitable. I'll still agree that taking advantage of any tight players on the table is crucial at this stage, but to just automatically get aggressive seems misguided. Thoughts?

Hello..

I think playing tight is more profitable in the bubble, of course this will depend on his chips and cards.

There are many villain I've ever seen falling on the bubble for wanting to steal the blinds with 74 and face to face with AA AK QQ TT AQ and fall before ..

in my case, send all questions, I prefer to play tight.

because as you said, and it's true, 99% of these players are more aggressive on the bubble.

#3

5th August 2016, 5:51 PM

asedu [576]

Poker at: =$+

generally speaking - yes play aggro !BUT you have to adjust for the table. if you've got 5,6,7 who call all-ins with TJo in UTG you have to account for that

#4

5th August 2016, 7:16 PM

TheImperator [160]

Online Poker at: ACR

Game: All games.

Around the bubble is one of the best times in the entire tournament to accumulate chips. People are tightening up to make sure they cash, and the great player will take advantage of this and chip up.

Since you should be using correct bankroll management, and since you are playing to win the tournament, the bubble shouldn't matter to you. If you bubble making a strong play, there's no shame in that.

Your goal is to win the tournament, not to min cash -- always remember that.

#5

5th August 2016, 10:02 PM

kmart99 [85]

re: Poker & Playing Aggressive On the Bubble in Micro Tourneys

Originally Posted by TheImperator

Around the bubble is one of the best times in the entire tournament to accumulate chips. People are tightening up to make sure they cash, and the great player will take advantage of this and chip up.

Since you should be using correct bankroll management, and since you are playing to win the tournament, the bubble shouldn't matter to you. If you bubble making a strong play, there's no shame in that.

Your goal is to win the tournament, not to min cash -- always remember that.

My issue with this(and I understand that all pros agree with your statement) is that most players do NOT tighten up around the bubble. Most players get extra lose aggressive around the bubble. At least at the micro tourneys they are. If it were true that players were getting tighter to avoid bubbling out, then ya, I'd agree with being aggressive, but it just isn't true in most small stakes MTT tourneys. At least not in my experience.

#6

5th August 2016, 10:39 PM

SBEP [300]

Both things are right to do, but then it depends at least for me on my chips stack, if im the chip leader on the table ill push them hard almost everytime, and not just on the bubble, but if im short stacked, then i have no other choice except to w8 for a good hand and put it all in, so what ever u dicide to do when it comes to the bubble play, sertanly depends on you and you alone, every1 has a different aproach to this game, some are more better then others, but then the variance has a way to change your mind bout any type of play during any time of the tournament.

#7

6th August 2016, 6:26 PM

TheImperator [160]

Poker at: ACR

Game: All games.

Originally Posted by kmart99

My issue with this(and I understand that all pros agree with your statement) is that most players do NOT tighten up around the bubble. Most players get extra lose aggressive around the bubble. At least at the micro tourneys they are. If it were true that players were getting tighter to avoid bubbling out, then ya, I'd agree with being aggressive, but it just isn't true in most small stakes MTT tourneys. At least not in my experience.

It is going to be situational, but it seems much more prevalent in micro MTT where people are playing to get ITM and not playing optimally.

If you are playing at a table with several big stacks, getting more aggro might be bad... again, everything is situational... but generally, getting tight and passive around the bubble is a -EV play.

#8

6th August 2016, 8:15 PM

bnasp2 [541]

Online Poker at: PartyPoker

Game: holdem

Yes, be as aggresive as possible around bubble.
Of course having 3 regs which are also agressive will limit that "as possible").

And of course aggressive does not mean to get all-in preflop. On the contrary, your task is to steal preflop, or on the flop. And also hope that you will get somtimes some monster and noone will believe you.

#9

7th August 2016, 7:58 PM

Gh0stL [157]

Poker at: Pokerstars

Game: Hold'em NL

I think in the buble you are be agressive, and depend your hand and position.

#10

8th August 2016, 1:48 AM

Timmah120 [161]

Online Poker at: Bovada

Game: 7-Stud

re: Poker & Playing Aggressive On the Bubble in Micro Tourneys

In general, tight tables = play loose. Loose tables = play tight. You always have to be flexible, because the play at tables shift frequently.

Around the bubble, I tend to get a bit more aggressive in later positions to accumulate chips, but ONLY if the table appears to be tightening up. If they are being super aggressive, just sit back and let them beat each other up. Chips are your lifeline....yes, you want to accumulate as much as possible, but you are NOT going to do that if everyone is playing a wide range of hands (even your AA is weak against many opponents). You would have to get lucky. Tournaments are, by nature, high variance. As previous posters have commented, if you bust out making smart and strong plays, that should not be viewed as a negative, but as a positive.